Netanyahu can be seen as a maneuverer, but in reality, he is an ideologue, relentless in his efforts to maintain control of what he refers to as Judea and Samaria. He will feint to the left or right, as need be, but the key to understanding him is to judge him by his actions, not his words.

The scene is set at next month's World Cup in Brazil for showdown between Israel and Palestine that will be off the pitch given that neither qualified for one of the world's most important sporting events.

Once Palestine joins the ICC, the court's jurisdiction will provide coverage against human rights violations in the Palestinian territories, regardless of whether the source of such violations is Israel or the PA itself. In other words, this will establish a foundation for the prevalence of the rule of law in the Palestinian territories.

Pope Francis' trip to Israel beginning on May 25 is clearly an important visit, as any papal appearance is. Its greatest importance may lie in the fact that it reflects the normalization of relations between the Vatican and the State of Israel, not to mention Catholic-Jewish relations more broadly.

As the Jewish right and left wings rush to their respective corners, those of us in the relative center of the community have a right to feel excluded and frustrated by the Presidents' Conference decision.

What troubled me most was that Kerry, after acknowledging that many Israelis have offered the same warning, apologized for using the word "apartheid" saying that "it is a word best left out of the debate here at home." In other words, Israelis can have this debate, but we can't.

It seems that Netanyahu, dragged kicking and screaming into peace talks by the Obama administration, never wanted peace between two equal sides. He wanted to force the weaker side to accept terms that he knew they could not and should not be asked to do.

Occupation must end not only because of its inherent injustice, as it demeans, debases and degrades the Palestinians, but because of what the occupation does to the Israelis -- it discredits and disgraces Jewish heritage and changes the once-oppressed Jews into merciless, heartless oppressors.

"Israel will gradually lift roadblocks, checkpoints and military closures throughout the West Bank. We are extending the security and governance responsibilities of the Palestinian Authority to all of Area B and much of Area C. We will work with the Palestinian Authority to do so in a systematic manner...."

A bitter extended exchange between two very old friends from Capitol Hill's contingent of Vietnam vets -- Secretary of State John Kerry and Senator John McCain -- captured the spirit of anger and disarray that presently characterizes America's geopolitical posture.

Every single day Israel continues its occupation and colonial settlement activities, it is acting unilaterally. The idea that it will take another unilateral move does not scare Palestinians who have little more to lose through their newfound, albeit tiny, act independent of their Israeli occupiers.